TNAG-0363-FCO40-409-Appointments-of-senior-officers-in-Hong-Kong-1973 — Page 58

IMMEDIATE

CYPHER/CAT A

FM GOVERNOR BERMUDA 24153ØZ

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TO IMMEDIATE FCO TELNO PERSONAL 15 OF 24 FEBRUARY 1973.

YOUR TELNO PERSONAL 17: APPOINTMENT OF SOLICITOR-GENERAL,

HONG KONG.

I HAVE HAD A FURTHER DISCUSSION WITH THE GOVERNMENT LEADER THIS

MORNING ABOUT THE LENGTH OF INITIAL CONTRACT. THE NORMAL PERIOD

HERE IS THREE YEARS AND THERE COULD BE POLITICAL OBJECTIONS TO

MAKING AN EXCEPTION TO THIS. THE GOVERNMENT LEADER ASSURES ME, HOWEVER, THAT IN NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES THERE WOULD BE NO OBJECTION RAISED TO RENEWAL OF THE CONTRACT AT THE END OF THE MINIMUM PERIOD. I HOPE THIS WILL BE ACCEPTABLE TO SIR BRYAN ROBERTS AS I AM MOST ANXIOUS TO OBTAIN HIS SERVICES, PARTICULARLY AS AFTER EXAMINATION THERE APPEARS TO BE NO REALLY SUITABLE LOCAL CANDIDATES.

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HD CARIBBEAN D GD GIB & GEN D SIR D WATSON

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